AMEN, אָמֶן signifies true, faithful, certain. It is
made use of likewise to affirm any thing, and was a
sort of affirmation used often by our Saviour: Αμῶν,
אָמֶן, אָמֶן יָמֶן, i. e. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Last-
ly, It is understood as expressing a wish; as Amen, So
be it (Numb. v. 22.), or an affirmation, Amen, yes I be-
lieve it, 1 Cor. xiv. 16. The Hebrews end the five
books of Psalms, according to their way of distribut-
ing them, with the words Amen, Amen; which the
Septuagint have translated ἡμῶν, ἡμῶν; and the La-
tins, Fiat, fiat. The Greek and Latin churches have
preserved this word in their prayers, as well as alleluia
and hosanna; because they observed more energy in
them than in any terms which they could use in their
own languages. At the conclusion of the public pray-
ers, the people answered with a loud voice, Amen;
and St Jerome says, that at Rome, when the people an-
swered Amen, the sound of their voices was like a clap
of thunder: In similitudine caelestis tonitruī Amen re-
boat. The Jews assert, that the gates of heaven are
opened to him who answers Amen with all his might.